Pharaoh’s response to the darkness is to propose a
compromise with Moses. The people can go
but they have to leave the livestock behind.
The compromise is to ensure the people return. They won’t simply leave their assets behind,
remember that the original story was that Joseph’s family were shepherd,
leaving the flocks and herds behind in Egypt would require shepherds to return
to them when they had finished their worship.
The Lord’s promise, however, was not only would they leave Egypt but
that they would take not only their stuff but that the Egyptians would send
them away with anything they asked of them.
The people are thus instructed to ask their Egyptian neighbors for their
gold and silver jewelry, these will be needed to construct the tabernacle and
its accoutrements although they don’t know that at the time, they have never
had formal worship. Before he takes his
leave of Pharaoh, Moses announces the final plague against the first born.
Bartimaeus makes his plea by calling Jesus the Son of
David. That is a clear statement that
Bartimaeus recognizes Jesus as Messiah.
As the procession moves towards Jerusalem pilgrims for the Passover
feast are joining the disciples and we can only imagine the “buzz” that all
this has raised, both in Jerusalem and the outlying districts and towns. Many told Bartimaeus to be silent, something
the Pharisees will encourage Jesus to tell the crowds welcoming Him to Jerusalem. Bartimaeus will not be silent, if this is
indeed the Messiah then it is his one shot at healing and he won’t miss
out. Jesus asks what he wants, is the
man begging for money and food or does he have faith for something more? He wants to recover his sight and receives
that for which he asks. Bartimaeus’
response is to follow Jesus on His way.
He will have reason to wish his sight had not been restored when he sees
what happens to Jesus.
Paul gives the Corinthians perspective on suffering. He refers to this light momentary affliction
and say that this does not compare to the eternal weight of glory for which we
are being prepared. In Egypt the
people’s suffering was acute and as the plagues wore on they saw the power of
God in His judgment on Egypt and His lovingkindness in sparing His people from
these judgments but they must have wondered how long this would continue before
they were delivered. This generation
never received the promise because they failed in faith, they only received
deliverance from Egypt. We are
encouraged to look beyond those things that are seen as merely transient to the
unseen things that are eternal. The long
view of things is longer than the world knows, our sight for these unseen
things is part of the healing of our sinful brokenness that Jesus has
healed. Do we walk by that sight and
praise Him for all the unseen things he has done for us or do we walk by the
limitations of the fleshly sight?
I love to tell the
story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His
glory, of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story,
because I know ’tis true;
It satisfies my
longings as nothing else can do.
I love to tell the
story, ’twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old
story of Jesus and His love.
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